UOIT reaches another 10th anniversary milestone

OSHAWA, ON. - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) achieved a significant milestone today, marking the 10^th anniversary of the day UOIT officially came into being on June 27, 2002, with the passage of Bill 109, Schedule O, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Act, 2002.

“UOIT has experienced tremendous growth and success since its inception and I look forward to celebrating these achievements with our campus community, partners and friends in the year ahead,” said UOIT President Tim McTiernan. “Starting with a bold and ambitious vision and with its unique mission and innovative technology-enriched learning environment, UOIT has prepared more than 6,700 alumni to lead and succeed in the 21^st-century workplace.”

It took more than ten years for a group of committed citizens and community leaders along with the senior administration at Durham College to marshal the support needed to realize their vision for a student-centred, market-oriented institution dedicated to teaching excellence, groundbreaking research and the use of leading-edge learning technology.

Having started with less than 1,000 undergraduate students in 2003, UOIT has grown to more than 8,400 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a diverse array of 43 undergraduate and 27 graduate programs. The vibrant campus has expanded from the original Science building to several more state-of-the-art buildings at the north Oshawa location and established a substantial footprint in downtown Oshawa with students and faculty occupying five buildings there.

According to the Conference Board of Canada, Oshawa is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. Furthermore, the Durham Region is expected to grow beyond one million residents by 2031. Having a comprehensive university with a mandate to develop and deliver science and technology focused, career-oriented undergraduate and graduate university programs will continue to support this growth and contribute to the economic and social vitality of both the city and the region.

UOIT will officially kick off its year-long 10^th-anniversary celebrations on September 4, 2012, the day the university opened its doors to the first cohort of students. Plans are in development for a variety of anniversary-related activities designed to build awareness, engage the campus community, mark the many achievements and recognize and celebrate those involved in the founding of the university.

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